You never ask! This, above all, is the single most important reason fundraising fails. As my father always told me: If you don’t ask, you don’t get. But do make sure that you are asking appropriately. Which leads us to the second failure point

You don’t cultivate. Synonyms for cultivate include nurture, develop, encourage, enrich. Are you doing any of that for your prospects? If you are like most nonprofits the answer is not really. We meet, maybe we greet, then we send something out in a letter, an email, on social media asking for a gift.

You don’t do any research. So you don’t know what this person cares about, supports, could give. And you certainly don’t know—nor, apparently, do you care—how he or she most wants to receive information.

You’re unclear. About what you want and how you describe why supporting you matters. You have no decent messaging. And what you do have is so generic, no one relates to it

You have no plan. Above all, this is why you fail. If you do not have a strategy, a blueprint for action….you are stuck on start, and that is not the place where fundraising happens.

Janet Levine works with nonprofits, helping to increase their fundraising capacity and move them from mired to inspired. Learn about Janet at www.janetlevineconsulting.com. While there, sign up for her newsletter and contact her for a free, 30-minute consultation. But only do that if you want to stop failing

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About janetlevineconsulting

For over 20 years, Janet Levine has worked for and with nonprofit and educational organizations, helping to grow their advancement programs. Her consulting company, Janet Levine Consulting, serves a wide range of organizations from small, all-volunteer agencies to major national organizations. She regularly teaches courses in non-profit management, fundraising and grant development, both face-to-face and online at http://courses.lmlearningstation.com/.
In addition to her nonprofit work, Janet brings years of experience as a business and sales manager in the for-profit sector. She has an MBA from the Graziadio School of Business at Pepperdine University.

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Too Busy To Fundraise

Too Busy To Fundraise, a blog from Janet Levine Consulting, offers insights and information on fundraising, marketing and communications for every one who needs to raise funds for a nonprofit organization.

For over thirty years, Janet Levine has served the nonprofit sector, helping organizations to increase their fundraising capacity and create stronger boards. Starting in 1988 as Director of Corporate Relations for USC’s Engineering School, Janet worked as a front line fundraiser, ultimately becoming VP of Advancement at a public university.In 2007, Janet opened her consulting business.Her many clients have ranged from large to small, representing all areas of the sector.Janet Levine Consulting prides itself on taking nonprofits “from mired to inspired,” better able to fulfill their missions.

In addition to her consulting and coaching practice, Janet is a much sought after presenter at conferences, a regular trainer for such organizations as the Center for Nonprofit Management, Academy Go, and the The Nonprofit Partnership.She teaches three online classes for Ed2Go and has been on the faculty at UCLA’s fundraising certificate program.